Spectrum Completes First S.40 Fuselage

Spectrum Aeronautical sister company Rocky Mountain Composites completed a test article version of the all-composite S.40 Freedom midsize jet fuselage at its Spanish Fork, Utah manufacturing facility. The fuselage manufacturing demonstrator (FMD) is the first of a series and was built as a single piece using co-cured carbon/polymer material, also known as the company’s FibeX process. The first FMD will be used for manufacturing validation testing before the construction of the first flying prototype S.40. First flight of the S.40 is planned for the middle of next year, followed by FAA certification to Part 23 (single-pilot) regulations 12 to 18 months later.